Water Practice Lead

Forgen•Dallas, TX

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Forgen Water Practice Lead is a senior-level role responsible for building and leading Forgen's water sector presence across Texas and the broader South-Central U.S. market. This individual will serve as both a market-facing business development leader and a technical authority — bringing deep expertise in flood control, coastal resilience, and water storage and conveyance infrastructure to position Forgen as a go-to construction partner for complex, high-consequence water projects. The Water Practice Lead will establish and grow relationships with key clients including municipal flood control districts, state and federal agencies, and engineering firms; develop and own the regional water sector opportunity pipeline; and collaborate with Forgen's operations and estimating teams to convert pursuits into awarded work. This role is ideally suited for a candidate coming from a design-build engineering firm, specialty civil contractor, or program management organization with recognized water infrastructure experience across Texas and the Gulf Coast region.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related field
Minimum of 10 years of experience in water infrastructure, with a demonstrated track record in business development, project pursuit, or senior technical/project leadership on flood control, dam, coastal resilience, or water storage and conveyance projects
Established relationships with Texas water sector clients, agencies, and engineering firms; familiarity with the Texas funding and regulatory landscape for water infrastructure
Experience working for or alongside recognized water sector firms
Strong understanding of alternative project delivery methods (design-build, CMAR, progressive design-build) and how they apply to water infrastructure procurement in Texas
Exceptional communication and presentation skills; able to convey technical concepts clearly to both engineering and owner audiences
Goal-oriented, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple pursuits and client relationships simultaneously in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Valid Driver's License and ability to travel regionally as needed

Nice To Haves

Experience with USACE dam safety or levee certification programs
Familiarity with FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and LOMR/CLOMR processes
Experience with coastal resilience projects along the Texas Gulf Coast
Knowledge of geotechnical considerations in levee, dam, and earthen embankment construction
Active participation in Texas Water, SAME, ASCE Texas Section, or related professional organizations
Experience with CRM and lead generation platforms (Hubspot, GovWin or equivalent)

Responsibilities

Build and strengthen Forgen's position in the Texas and South-Central U.S. water market by establishing, developing, and maintaining relationships with key decision-makers at flood control districts, river authorities, water conservation districts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), FEMA, TWDB, and major engineering and program management firms operating in the region
Identify, qualify, and cultivate new business opportunities in Forgen's target water sectors — flood control infrastructure, coastal resilience and shoreline protection, dam rehabilitation and construction, reservoir and water storage conveyance projects — and translate those opportunities into a robust, well-managed pursuit pipeline
Maintain accurate and current CRM records including opportunity tracking, client contact history, pursuit status, and revenue forecasts; provide regular pipeline reporting to Forgen's business development and operations leadership
Lead the full pursuit lifecycle for water sector opportunities — from early opportunity identification and client engagement through RFQ/RFP response, interview preparation, and contract award; coordinate with estimating, operations, and executive leadership to develop compelling, differentiated proposals
Develop and communicate Forgen's value proposition to water sector clients, positioning the company's geotechnical, specialty civil, and construction capabilities as solutions to the complex challenges inherent in flood control, dam, and coastal projects
Leverage knowledge of alternative delivery methods (design-build, CMAR, progressive design-build) to advise clients and position Forgen favorably on high-value, technically complex pursuits
Serve as Forgen's internal subject matter resource for water infrastructure — providing technical guidance on flood control systems, levee and dam construction and rehabilitation, coastal protection structures, stormwater conveyance, and reservoir projects during pursuit, estimating, and early project execution phases
Monitor trends, funding flows, and regulatory developments in the Texas water market, including TWDB State Water Plan funding, FEMA BRIC programs, USACE Civil Works appropriations, and federal infrastructure legislation; translate market intelligence into actionable capture strategy
Build the Water Practice over time by identifying talent, developing internal water sector expertise, and establishing Forgen's reputation through industry engagement, conference participation, and thought leadership in key water infrastructure forums across Texas and the Gulf Coast
Identify and develop teaming partnerships with engineering firms, program managers, and specialty subcontractors who can strengthen Forgen's competitive position on water sector pursuits; manage teaming relationships through pursuit and into project delivery
Represent Forgen at relevant industry events, conferences, and association meetings and flood control district advisory forums; build brand recognition in the Texas water infrastructure community
Collaborate with Forgen's broader business development team to align water sector strategy with company-wide growth objectives and ensure cross-market opportunities (geotechnical, environmental, heavy civil) are identified and coordinated
Perform additional assignments and special projects as directed